The Inspiration Behind Our Cherry Blossom Collection

There’s something so magical about the city in full bloom—it gives you a warm, hopeful feeling that brighter days are ahead.

As the cherry blossoms in Washington, DC reach peak bloom, I can't help but take a trip down memory lane to reflect on the making of our Blossom Collection. This month marks the five-year anniversary of the Blossom Collection launch!

Back then, the collection started with a few core items—no towel yet, weird, I know. We still carry all of these original products, except for the sticker sheet, which has since been retired.

Our launch coincided with an unexpected global event—COVID-19. The pandemic upended life as we knew it, but during that time of uncertainty, we embraced the wise words of Lady Bird Johnson: “Where flowers bloom, so does hope.”

From the trees in full bloom to the pink dusting of fallen flowers, seeing the blossoms really gives you a warm and hopeful feeling that only spring can bring.

The inspiration for this collection came, of course, from the breathtaking cherry blossoms that transform DC each spring. There’s something so magical about the city in full bloom—it gives you a warm, hopeful feeling that brighter days are ahead. 

The collection was also inspired by my love of vintage florals. I wanted to put my own spin on the classic blossom design, giving it a vintage vibe through unique shapes and colors. While the blossom collection was forming in my mind, life had a funny way of adding new inspiration into the mix. At the time, we were helping my parents move out of their childhood home, and in the process, we uncovered a treasure trove of old patterns from decades past.

From left to right: Contact paper my mom used to cover our baby boxes filled with memories; the floral lining of an old desk drawer found in our attic; the green floral tablecloth we still use at markets, passed down from my mom. It has also been a bed sheet and beach blanket for our family over the years.

Those nostalgic prints sparked even more creativity, allowing me to create a collection that felt both timeless and personal. The result? My own unique interpretation of DC’s iconic blossoms.

Found these photos of my Dad painting flowers on his friend's knees. I kind of love this idea! And pictured on the right, is my Mom from 1970. I'm loovving those curtains!

Over the years, we’ve expanded the collection, adding new blossom-themed products that I hope you love just as much love as I do. If you haven’t already, you can shop our entire Blossom Collection on our website or at our airport gift shop if you're traveling through DCA.

Traveling through DCA soon and need the perfect blossom gift? Stop by The Neighborgoods DC, our airport gift shop, located in Terminal 2 in the National Hall (accessible to all of DCA’s airport travelers after passing through security) and closest to the C Gates.

 

Shop our entire Blossom Collection, featuring dish towels, sponge cloths, matching gift sets, and more!

As we celebrate another cherry blossom season, I hope you’ll join us in soaking in the beauty of DC’s blooms—whether in person or from afar. Catch the blossoms bloom live on the #BLOOMCAM, courtesy of the Trust for the National Mall, in partnership with the National Park Service and Earthcam.

Here’s to another season of joy, hope and, of course, blossoms!

Jodi Kostelnik
Founder & Creator
The Neighborgoods